Style Me Pretty: Wedding Blog for the Style-Obsessed Bride

Elevated Elegance At Santa Lucia Preserve

It’s elevated elegance all the way at this Carmel Valley wedding. Carefully curated details planned by Allison Weddings added to the natural beauty of Santa Lucia Preserve, and flowers designed by Barefoot Floral are beyond beautiful. Each artfully captured image shot by Carlie Statsky is more incredible than the last, see them all inside the full gallery.

From the bride… After waiting more than a year from our original wedding date and a few postponements, it was a surreal experience to finally celebrate with all of our dear family and friends. The Santa Lucia Preserve in Carmel, California has been such a special place for us and our families, so we were thrilled to share it with our guests. Teeming with untouched, natural beauty, the Preserve was such a perfect place to host the people we love most! Everyone tells you the weekend moves fast, but you have no idea just how fast until things get underway! We kicked off the weekend with an outdoor pizza oven on Thursday at my family’s home and it zoomed by from there! We wanted our friends to soak up the Preserve’s beautiful surroundings, so Friday’s activities were all outdoor and involved golfing, hiking (led by none other than the mother-of-the-bride!) and pickleball.

That evening, guests joined us at Folktale Vineyards, one of Carmel’s most charming wineries and a personal favorite, for our Welcome Party. With over 500 wine barrels stacked from floor to ceiling, the Barrel Room was a perfect introduction to Carmel Valley. Our dress code was “California Chic” and our guests did not disappoint! In honor of my dad’s birthday, we even served a local favorite, Revival Ice Cream, for dessert which was topped with torched marshmallow fluff. The day of the wedding was a whirlwind of pure joy and excitement. For the ceremony, we shared vows in what my family calls the “Redwood Chapel.” The 800 year-old redwood grove was the most blissful and sacred setting, especially with the chuppah of our dreams, designed by Barefoot Floral. After getting married in 2020 with only a few family members, it was so special to finally share our commitment to one another with all of our family members and friends by our sides. Our officiant reminded us that, although Redwood trees stand alone, it’s their closeness, shared canopy and co-mingled roots which provide support and allow them to hold the water they need for life.

After the ceremony, our guests gathered on the beautiful Hacienda lawn for hors d’oeuvres and carnitas street tacos, the groom’s favorite! As the sun began to set, our amazing photographers whisked us away for sunset photos atop a gorgeous vista that we will treasure forever. And then the party really started as guests danced the night away in the 100 year-old barn. We brought in the Pop Rocks from San Francisco and their unreal disco moves and many outfit changes knocked the socks off of our guests. We kicked off dancing with the mother-of-the-bride and father-of-the-groom’s favorite song, Hotel California, and it felt like the fun never stopped! We wrapped up the night with late night churros and In-N-Out inspired burgers before the sweetest farewell. The next morning, we said our goodbyes at our farewell brunch at Quail Lodge over breakfast burritos and much needed coffee. A few of our favorite pups joined too! Although the celebrations went too fast, the weekend was beyond our wildest dreams. Special thanks to the vendors and team that made it happen!

5 Brands You’ll Want to Know While Wedding Planning

Like every other industry, weddings are evolving and new brands are popping up left and right that we all wish were around when we were wedding planning! From cool new guest book alternatives and sustainable shopping to revolutionary teeth whitening, we did a deep dive so you don’t have to. Here are five new brands that will make your wedding planning easier and, of course, (SM)Prettier. You’re welcome ;-)

Trousso

These days, weddings are no longer a single event, and brides want to look picture-perfect at each celebration (think bachelorette, bridal shower, rehearsal dinner, and afterparty). But it’s agonizing to buy new, expensive outfits you’ll only wear once. Well, have you checked out Trousso? Trousso is the resale platform making upscale bridal fashion financially accessible and environmentally sustainable for the next generation of brides. With Trousso, you can search by wedding event and find designer outfits from brands like Retrofête, Cult Gaia, Jimmy Choo, and Zimmermann. Every transaction on their platform helps one bride earn back money on outfits worn once and taking up space in their closet, while helping another bride access a high-quality ensemble at 20-80% off retail! What’s not to love?

After The Tone

Every wedding needs a guest book and why settle for a traditional “book” when you could have something fun, interactive, and something you will truly cherish for the rest of your lives? Introducing After The Tone. They ship you a real vintage rotary phone and record voicemails you want to keep from all of your favorite people. Regardless of the package you choose, you’ll receive your voicemails digitally. You also have the option to put them on Vinyl record or USB. Their phones don’t require wall plugins, extension cords, or wifi! This makes it easy for the phone to be transported throughout your event (from pre-ceremony and cocktail hour to the reception, and even the after-party!) They currently ship Nationwide to the US & Canada. Just set it up and let your guests leave messages throughout the night. Then, break out the recordings on special occasions and anniversaries for a sentimental moment or a good laugh.

Bride Brite

You’ve got your hair and makeup trial scheduled, your bridal skincare routine is on-lock, but what about your smile? You want that baby to sparkle! And with so many whitening brands on the market, it’s hard to know where to start. Some are too harsh and some don’t work at all. Well, we’ve found the perfect brand. Designed by a dentist for his bride, BrideBrite guarantees noticeably whiter teeth after using their kit for 10 minutes for 10 days. Best of all, it’s enamel-safe and SENSITIVITY FREE! You can purchase the Bride Brite or Groom Glow Advanced Teeth Whitening Kits on their own or you can bundle and save by choosing two kits of your choice and checking out as a Couple’s Bundle. These kits, in addition to their on-the-go products (BlingBRITE and StayBRITE) make incredible gifts as well. Each Advanced Teeth Whitening Kit features 3 brush-on-whitening pens for precise application (65+ uses), a wireless LED mouthpiece to accelerate the whitening process, a 3D shade guide to mark your progress, and a bonus desensitizing gel to ensure that you don’t experience any sensitivity.

Using the discount code “STYLEMEPRETTY” you can invest in your Wedding White Teeth for $89.97 and get 40% off sitewide + free shipping!

Swoon Bridal Consulting

You’ve heard people vent about how stressful wedding planning can be. It’s easy to get caught up in all of the little details and forget to take care of yourself or nurture the relationship that you’re supposed to be celebrating. For some people, it’s also their first time leading a creative team, which brings about its own set of challenges. Well, now there’s a brand that’s taking a unique approach to coaching female leaders of tomorrow through wedding planning. Swoon Bridal Consulting is the first of its kind bridal leadership coaching. Neuroscientifically based for holistic wellness and personal growth during the wedding planning process. They teach interpersonal skill development and meditation techniques to provide brides with a set of tools that can better manage the social pressures of wedding planning, and reduce stress along their marriage journey. With both in-person and online workshops, Swoon fortifies an individual bride’s sense of leadership so she can gracefully navigate everything from the meaningful blending of family rituals to the potential interpersonal clashes among bridesmaids. They’re launching workshops in January 2023 and taking individual coaching clients now, so book today!

Swoon is offering SMP readers a $150 discount when you use code SMP2023 at checkout. This code can be used thru 11:59pm on November 10th, 2022 on Workshops and retreats (items over $500).

The Sip

Now that you’ve said yes, it’s your turn to pop the question. And what better way is there to do that than with a beautiful bottle (or three) of the world’s best bubbly? The Sip curates luxe gift boxes that are perfect for every occasion because your besties deserve the best! Make sure to look into their bulk gifting to get the most bubbly for your buck. Plus, The Sip is a brand you can feel good investing in. Not only are they a Black women-owned business, but a portion of every purchase goes to funding clean drinking water for women and children in need (5,500 gallons so far)! While you’re at it, go ahead and sign yourself up for a subscription because between all the celebrating and late-night Pinterest seshes, you’re gonna need it!

Bridal Consultant: Swoon Bridal Consulting | Bridal Fashion: Trousso | Gifts: The Sip | Guest Book: after the tone | Teeth Whitening: Bride Brite

Old World Italian Wedding Inspiration on Lake Como at Villa Sola Cabiati

Today’s wedding inspiration is for the hopeless romantic at heart. The bride who dreams of old world elegance, timeless design and classic Italian flair. If that perfectly depicts your wedding style to a T, then boy are you in a for a treat – all thanks to the ever talented Janna Brown Design Co! See the full gallery captured by Janna to see find all the inspo you’ll need to pull off your dream destination wedding.

From Janna Brown Design Co… Perched on the shores of Tremezzo, Villa Sola Cabiati reigns as one of the most exquisite properties on all of LAKE COMO.

As one of the most sought after wedding destinations in the world, Lake Como is no stranger to weddings, from luxurious, intimate elopements to extravagant multi-day celebrations, couples travel near and far to say their vows in this iconic setting.

When designing for such an opulent wedding venue, we drew inspiration from its Neoclassical style and Italian gardens, opting for a classic palette of creams and organic greens, incorporating luxurious linens and gold accents. Each detail was carefully curated to create a timeless design as an extension of the decadence of this magnificent Italian wonderland.

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Sugared Fig Paperie

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East Meets West Napa Valley Wedding

This fabulous fusion wedding is bursting with fun. From a ceremony surrounded by cherry blossom trees to a gift of gold chopsticks at the sit down dinner, Charmed Events Group, LLC planned and designed a day that dazzles. Flowergirl Em filled the day with the most beautiful of blooms, and Amanda Callaway Photography elegantly captured every moment in impeccable photography. Visit the full gallery to fall in love.

From Charmed Events Group, LLC… East meets West is the theme of this wedding. Our New York bride really wanted to honor and share her heritage with family and friends and had a particular love and affinity for cherry blossoms to shine at her wedding. The couple chose Napa to get married at because it’s a destination that was important to their relationship. Being that all their family and guests are from the East Coast, she wanted the wedding to reflect East meets West in heritage, as well as East Coast meets West Coast in vibe. We focused on an Asian heritage theme for the ceremony, bringing in lots and lots of cherry blossom trees as the bride had a special love and affinity for them.

It created the most stunning and magical setting for our couple to say their vows out. We also used the cherry blossom trees as a motif for their escort display as guests joyfully found their seats. The couple hired the main singer form Crazy, Rich Asians to sing her chinese version of Yellow by Coldplay for our bride as she walked down the aisle. Guests were also later treated to a small performance set during the reception as well. For the reception, the couple wanted to share their stylish, modern and polished East Coast vibe so we transitioned the design to be reflective of a New York vibe.

While we used blush and whites for the ceremony, we transitioned our color palette to be whites, cremes and soft golds for the reception. Hundreds and hundreds of candles used were used to evoke feelings of a NY affair and the couple paired their Pan Asian inspired dinner with a gift of gold chopsticks for each guest. Guests then migrated to the estate’s barrel room where they were treated their guests to the most epic first dance by the couple. And in true NY fashionista fashion, the bride changed her dress two times, each filled with Tulle goodness dance the night away.

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

BBJ La Tavola

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Petit Bouquet

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This Classic Seaside Elegance Wedding Was Worth The Wait

This destination Hawaii wedding is as heartfelt as it is filled with stylish inspiration. Taryn Stark Wyant Event Planning and Design made the couple’s 2.5 year wait, after a postponement due to Covid, more than worth it. From the seaside ceremony to the outdoor tented reception, every inch of this day is dripping with pretty. Blooms by Dellables are endlessly romantic, and each magical moment is artfully captured in imagery by Dmitri and Sandra Photography. Head to the full gallery for a closer look at all the fun.

From Taryn Stark Wyant Event Planning and Design… Anna and Aaron are both Business Managers from BC, Canada. While they had planned their Destination Maui Wedding for March 2020, Covid had other plans for them. A mere 4-days before their wedding was scheduled to take place that year, Hawaii closed it’s doors to incoming travelers and Anna and Aaron were forced to postpone their Wedding. Nearly 2.5 years later, the couple traveled to Maui with their closest family members and friends, and the newest addition to their family, their son, Cohen!

“The favorite part of our Wedding was our Arch–Taryn’s sweet surprise for us, absolutely stunning!” says Anna. “I highly recommend hiring Taryn Stark Wyant Event Planning and Design and her team for your big day! We had the most amazing experience!”

“It was really important to me to honor the couple in a sizable way, both literally and figuratively! They had waited too long for this special moment,” says Founder and Principal Planner of Taryn Stark Wyant Event Planning and Design, Taryn. “We are blessed to partner with some truly incredible vendors on our Hawaii-based Events. I called Jonas + Tasha, owners of Artisan Event Rentals Maui, before the Wedding and begged them to build me a massive arch for Anna + Aaron. Without question, they immediately agreed! I then purchased a stunning candelabra-style golden chandelier for the middle of the structure, and Dellables Floral Design then pulled out the stops in the arch décor and voila! We had a dream come true!” Following their seaside ceremony, guests were led to a stunning, flowing white sperry tent dripping with tailored chandeliers and a twinkle canopy.

“The couple was committed to classic elegance within a breathtaking, oceanfront space on Maui. We didn’t want to compete with our surroundings, so we worked carefully to bring their vision to life in hues of whites, ivory, golds, and neutrals. The hope was to create luxe, classic elegance,” says Taryn Stark Wyant Event Planning and Design.

“We know it is cliché to say every part was our favorite,” say Anna and Aaron, “but it was just because we had waited so long for this day, everything was absolutely perfect! But if we had to say our favorite, it definitely had to be all the sweet speeches that were given to us.”

Dinner and speeches were followed by group games, bouquet, garter tosses, and fun-filled dancing. All in all, it was apparent that this celebration was definitely worth the wait!

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

BBJ La Tavola

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Dmitri and Sandra Photography

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Modern Romantic Garden Wedding at Deane House

A summer palette of coral, blush and sage set the scene for this Calgary wedding. Kaity Body Photography captured the endlessly romantic details perfectly in her artful photography, and Jacqueline Rae Weddings planned and designed the day to perfection. Floral design by Meadow & Vine is nothing short of spectacular, see it all inside the full gallery.

From Kaity Body Photography… Jen & Ian’s garden wedding brought a perfect mix of history, modern design, and the wild west all together during the week of the world renowned Calgary Stamped! It was Jen and Ian’s dream to have their family enjoy the Calgary Stampede, especially as Ian’s family would be travelling such long distances to attend their big day. Jen also celebrated her Bachelorette with her closest friends in Nashville, a perfect way to begin their final wedding preparations. The Wild West was checked at the door for one day, as the historical downtown venue, the Deane House, turned into a modern, romantic garden fairy-tale. Walking into Jen and Ian’s home, hair and makeup was almost complete by the talented team at Top Knot Brides, adding the final touches to Jen’s long angelic Hollywood styled hair. Her bright blue eyes full of excitement, ready to pop some champagne and slip into her shimmering floral Galia Lahav gown, complete with long white bows on each shoulder. You would swear it was made for her – it had the beauty and drama Jen was looking for in her dream wedding gown.

She was even gifted the perfect earring set from Ian for this memorable occasion, a pair of delicate diamond studded flowers from Calgary Jewellery. Jen also gifted Ian an Omega Seamaster watch from the same Jeweller for his wedding gift. Jen’s bridal hair piece, as well as all of the bridesmaids jewelry was from shop owner Lindsay of Cinder & Sage, one of Jen’s bridesmaids! The gems were hues of coral, blush, and sage to accent the soft gradient of bridesmaids dresses. Ian departed from the Fairmont Palliser Hotel to eagerly await his stunning bride, for a private moment together. Luxurious transportation from Ambassador Limousine brought Jen to the riverside park, and when Ian turned to see his Bride, his expression was not hard to read. After a moment of excitement and tears, their beloved dog Gus joined the happy couple in his wedding attire. This would be the last time they would see their sweet Gus until they returned from their Honeymoon in Italy. After a romantic walk through the towering trees and some fun with their full bridal party, they were off to the floral filled gardens of the Deane House as their guests found their seats. Jen and Ian were surrounded by a cascade of coral, blush and ivory florals by Meadow & Vine, that appeared to be suspended by sunlight. Their vows brought tears and laughter to the air, and then it was finally official! As guests went to enjoy custom cocktails at Gus’ Gin bar, the now Mr. & Mrs. Were off to see their reception dreams become a reality with the stunning design by Jacqueline Rae Weddings.

Jen’s vision was fully realized with black contrasting accents added to the evening reception, to add a more moody and luxe vibe. The clouds of baby’s breath above, as well as encased below the assortment of intricately made desserts by Whippt Kitchen, created that dream like ambiance for the evening. Guests searched for their names on the arched statement seating chart, and for their table numbers on the beautifully custom designed stationery by Pink Umbrella Designs and Ynot Digital. The delicious meal and emotion filled speeches from friends and family were memorable to say the least. After the cake was cut, the champagne tower was poured, and the couples sparkler lit first dance was had, Pez Productions ensured everyone was on their feet, until the fireworks at the Stampede Grand Stand show lit up the night sky. With the promise of a life full of love, and a rodeo to get to in a few short hours in lieu of a farewell brunch, Jen & Ian’s marriage was off to the races.

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Petit Bouquet

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Black And White Wedding At The Iconic Beverly Hills Hotel

This stylish black and white wedding at the Beverly Hills Hotel is as iconic as the venue it was held at. Melissa Andre Events planned a day filled with dreamy details, and Tic Tock Couture Florals and Event Styling filled it with a sea of lush white blooms. Every heartfelt and impossibly chic moment is beautifully captured in imagery by Amanda Watson Photography. You can see it all inside the full gallery.

From Amanda Watson Photography…. Karla & Vince chose an opulent affair at the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel. Save the Dates in the form of custom ground coffee were sent out with a special note to inform guests of their upcoming nuptials. They continued their all black & white with personalized invitations for each guest complimented by a shiny black wax seal and their House of Ricci crest. Guests arrived on the red carpet of the Beverly Hills and were asked to wear all black. They understood the assignment!

A birds eye view of the ceremony showed a sea of guests in all black with the highlight of the bride as she walked down the aisle. To commemorate the passing of the groom’s parents, they released doves during a moment of remembrance. It was touching and some tears were shed. The bride wore a Monique Lhuillier gown for the ceremony with an Anne Barge veil custom embroidered with “faith” by Michael Costello. Michael Costello also created Karla’s two reception looks – a form fitting corseted gown for cake cutting and dancing and a chic cross neck gown with peep detailing for the couple’s first dance.

This gown was created in 3 days to accommodate for the bride’s movement during the couple’s choreographed first dance! Guests entered an all white, candlelit ballroom to the sounds of Eli’s Band and danced the night away until a late night snack of burgers & fries were passed.

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Petit Bouquet

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Brand Association and Brand Equity for your Wedding Business

Having a solid brand is key to running a successful business. Your branding is the first thing your clients will think of when they assess your offering. It determines how you message your products, how customers will perceive your and how likely they will be to purchase. How and why this happens is based on a theory called brand association.

So, what does brand association even mean?

Brand association is the psychology of how a consumer thinks about a brand, based on tangible and intangible things alike. When discovering a new brand, customers subconsciously categorize them based on things like the emotion they feel, the images they see, and what connections that brand has to others they may more closely recognize. Even at the very early stages of discovery, when thinking of a brand they are aware of, they immediately and subconsciously recall these categorizations and predetermine their opinion of said brand.

Did you know it takes consumers, on average, .05 seconds to determine if they like a website enough to stay, according to Bright Local Study? In addition, consumers spend nearly 6 seconds looking at a website’s main image, in contrast to spending almost equal time reading a website’s written content. We were not surprised to read these, as collated by Tonic Site Shop, as it confirms that visuals are so important to your brand.

What you want for your wedding business: Potential customers to associate positive feelings towards your company and offering, have a clear understanding of what to expect when hiring you, and recognize value that justifies the prices for your services/products.

Pillars of brand association

Visuals/design

“Unlike sound or tactile cues, visual elements can be applied across a multitude of platforms and formats, allowing them to be present at every brand touchpoint.” — Latana
The look of your brand. This includes your logo, website design, email interface, business cards, sales materials, and yes for sure the actual aesthetic of your work.
Visual representation is one of the first, and most impactful ways that a customer makes immediate assumptions about a brand.

Language

“Brand language is the body of terms, phrases, and words that a company uses to describe both themselves and their products. It is a marketing strategy used to help consumers identify and strike connections between specific words and a given product. “ — OnDemandCMO
The examples that this article use are specific coined terms like “Magic Kingdom”, “15%”, and “Just do it.” — can you think of the respective brands immediately? Yep. Disney, Geico, and Nike.
The language you use helps gives life to the visuals you put out there. Language also starts to paint the story of a brand, giving it longevity, and personality. When tweaking your wedding business language, perhaps you can consider phrases and words that a) are natural to you and b) convey feelings of happiness, luxury, celebration, and timelessness. All emotions/values that are crucial on a wedding day.

Once you’ve built your brand, and succeeded in positive brand association – it’s time to think about brand equity. Brand equity is the value of being a well-known, recognized or respected brand and, in having high brand equity, being able to generate more revenue than your competitors because of this status.

Cashing in on Your Brand Equity

As a wedding vendor, there’s a number of ways you can increase your brand equity – by working with other well-known and respected vendors or venues, by producing wow-worthy content that is naturally viral and by partnering with publications who have large followings that closely match the type of client you aspire to reach.

Here at Style Me Pretty, we call this – being in good company and here are a few ways partnering with Style Me Pretty amps up your brand equity.

Venues

Regularly show off your work that took place at your ideal venues (hot tip: or create work at these ideal venues!). Constantly put your business in the same lens as your ideal locations – this subconsciously reinforces the idea that you can create work that aligns with this venue.

Fellow vendors

Regularly show off work that you’ve done alongside other vendors that fall within your ideal range and share images/events with the aesthetic you’re aiming for.

Memberships

Part of SMP’s job is to reach out and give your brand a hug as your potential client is walking by (or cruising the internet or the ‘gram). This reinforces credibility and aesthestic alignment (you’re connected with SMP who has a strong brand identity as well in romantic, classic, and elevated weddings). The other vendors in the directory also elevate your brand’s credibility.

We’d love to really dive into this topic with all of you so please feel free to reach out either in our DMs (via @smplittleblackbook on IG) or at membership@stylemepretty.com!

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Petit Bouquet

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This Adorable Brunch Reception Will Have You Reconsidering Your Entire Wedding Theme

Here at SMP, we’d be lying if we said we didn’t have a soft spot in our hearts for brunch weddings 🥰 Espresso sans the martini, a relaxed and intimate atmosphere, sun-soaked ceremonies… it’s all just too sweet. Plus, an addition of the most beautiful floral bridesmaid dresses ever is the cherry on top! The soon-to-be Mom and Dad exchanged “I do’s” under a blooming arbor by Helen Olivia Flowers and celebrated with their loved ones under a tented reception, all planned by Pamela Barefoot Events. See all the sweetness at the full gallery from Astrid Photography!

From the couple… We (Emma & Tom) went to high school together and met during my sophomore year. We were both at school early for varsity preseason athletics. We maintained friends throughout the years in high school and after. It wasn’t until the beginning of Covid that we were both back in Alexandria and that is when our love blossomed into something neither of us had planned!

Our overall design theme was a brunch time garden wedding. We chose an outdoor venue with lots of flowers and a water view! Rather than a huge wedding, we opted for a more intimate gathering with our extended families and closest friends. Since Emma was pregnant, we chose to have a coffee bar open for the day with a variety of flavored syrups available. It was something delicious and unique that everyone enjoyed! We also served a peach mocktail named Lola, in honor of our daughter on the way!

My favorite parts of the day were the beautiful weather and how beautiful my wife looked. When I saw her being walked down the aisle with her father I had the absolute certainty I was the luckiest man in the world. That was the best feeling of my life.

We were able to relax and enjoy the day, which is what we both wanted overall. With Natalie’s assistance throughout the entire process we both felt so comfortable and didn’t have to worry!

From the planner… Emma and Tom both have family roots in Alexandria, Virginia. They attended the same high school together, however, it was not until the pandemic of 2020 that they reconnected and their love blossomed!

When I first spoke with Emma and Tom they were both very much in sync – their love was so palpable and truly inspiring! They wanted to do something in their hometown of Alexandria. Charming, intimate, outdoors, and brunch were a few words they used to describe the vision for their day. George Washington’s historic River Farm/Horticultural Society was the perfect venue for their garden brunch wedding.

The bride’s romantic eyelet lace dress and exciting pregnancy were two fun factors that guided the design and planning process. Leaning into River Farm’s landscape, Emma and Tom envisioned a clean yet whimsical vibe. White blooms, loads of greenery, and farm tables paired with chic upholstered chairs were a must! Organic white florals and colorful floral paper products paired beautifully under their gorgeously white-draped tent amidst the garden and scenic river views.

The couple had an epic brunch wedding and dessert table. As a fun twist, they named their specialty peach mocktail “Lola” in honor of their daughter on the way. And with the Groom’s love for coffee, they incorporated a coffee/espresso bar with a variety of fun flavored offerings.

We were able to find table runners that perfectly complemented the bride’s gorgeous dress. We paired this beautiful delicate floral china with these rattan chargers that were just the right amount of chic yet had a relaxed vibe with evergreen and sage paper, creating this beautiful earthy tablescape.

Emma and Tom’s garden wedding was full of charm and loads of love! All the guests were so happy and relaxed. It was the beautiful intimate celebration which they had both envisioned!

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

BBJ La Tavola

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A Romantic Summer Wedding in the Charming Foothills of the Smoky Mountains

The foothills of the Smoky Mountains set the scene for this stunning celebration. The day was done in a palette of blue and white expertly designed by Rachelle Youd Designs and filled with endlessly impressive blooms. The imagery shot by Meredith Benton Photography will sweep you off your feet. Visit the full gallery to fall in love.

From the Bride… Chandler and I attended Auburn University at the same time, but did not know each other except through mutual friends. Post college, I was living in Birmingham, AL working in interior design and Chandler was living in Nashville, TN working in management for commercial construction. My best friend ran into Chandler in a group setting and decided that he was the one for me. I will always be grateful for her thoughtful scheming in getting me and Chandler to the same city on the same weekend.

We were officially dating just one week later! We dated long distance for 8 months before both moving to Atlanta, GA for family and job opportunities. While on a family trip to Charleston, Chandler got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife! As we began looking for a wedding venue, we knew we wanted a destination wedding. Our photographer, Meredith Benton Photography, recommended that we look at RT Lodge. I loved the idea of being outdoors and have always dreamed of a very whimsical wedding.

When I found my wedding dress and we booked RT Lodge, our vision we worked from became “Ballgown in a Meadow.” That phrase really encompassed what I had envisioned. Classy and a little dramatic while still being whimsical and serene. One of our favorite parts of the wedding was the way our family and friends all were able to stay on property at RT Lodge. It made the whole weekend very intimate and the celebration never had to end!

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Japanese Influenced Wedding Design Among the Redwoods at Ventana Big Sur

Middle school classmates turned husband and wife, from Tokyo to New York, Julie and Erik’s love story was written in the stars. Inspired by the venue’s dreamy locale, Big Sur and influenced by the bride’s Japanese heritage – their wedding planned by Jacqueline Hallgarth Events was the perfect blend of contemporary design and organic texture. Siren Floral Co. did what they do best, creating magic with unexpected floral pairings and complimentary hues to the idyllic autumnal setting. See all the pretty at the full gallery, all captured by Kurt Boomer!

From the bride… We originally met in middle school in Tokyo, Japan—we were classmates in the same grade from 6 th grade through senior year of high school at the American School in Japan. We didn’t date during middle or high school, and didn’t keep in touch after we graduated, but in June of 2018, after we had both graduated from law school (Erik from Harvard Law School and Julie from University of Michigan Law School) we matched on Bumble when we were both in New York City (Erik was studying for the bar exam there, Julie was working there). We both recognized each other and decided to grab drinks to catch up, and started dating soon after. We wanted to make sure to incorporate some Japanese elements into the ceremony and reception, and also wanted to incorporate some Japanese aesthetic elements by highlighting our natural surroundings and using clean, modern lines.

From the planner… At the start of the planning process, I was so inspired when Julie & Erik sent me pictures of Julie’s gorgeous country home in Japan. I knew Ventana was the idyllic setting for their wedding. The property has clean and contemporary architecture while being immersed in nature and iconic Big Sur redwoods – the most perfect dichotomy. It was important to Julie and Erik the wedding venue would have activities for their guests traveling from all over the globe such as hiking, yoga, and wellness treatments.

We wanted the guests to have an immersive experience true to the destination – Big Sur. Siren Floral Co provided stunning ceremony florals featuring garden-style floor arrangements compromised largely of golden ferns, interesting textural branch, and some natural elements such as rusty California buckwheat. We wanted the florals to speak true to Big Sur’s autumnal setting that time of year. We had an elevated wooden platform as the aisle runner. For the altar, Siren Floral Co provided an overgrowth surrounding the platform composed of autumnal foliage and textural elements with more height to where Julie and Erik stood at the ceremony.

The tabletop came from Theoni with Terra Linen charger plates, black Twiggy flatware, and Beckett Gold linens from La Tavola Linen. Our centerpieces were composed of delicate floral movements and interesting shapes. The vessels and votives were handmade ceramic bowls in our color palette. We had little Ikebana-style florals created with floral frogs and simple groupings of interesting shapes to bring the ikebana feel to the tables. Locally grown golden ferns accented the ceiling string lights. The dinner menu was quite extensive so Swell Press created a gorgeous menu booklet in slate grey to create a restaurant like experience for the guests. Julie’s family is from Japan, and we wanted to make sure that there were some Japanese elements incorporated into the wedding. Julie’s family knows 5 th generation lacquerware makers in Aomori prefecture, the Kimura family, who designed and made lacquerware cups that were used at the wedding. In traditional Japanese wedding ceremonies, the families of the bride and groom break a barrel of sake—the act of breaking open a sake barrel means the start of something new. The tradition is called “Kagami Biraki” and is over 300 years old. Once the barrel is broken, the guests all cheers and drink sake together. Each guest had their own lacquerware cup which they used for this tradition and which we also used as part of the table display (picture below).

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Unseen Moments From Bachelor Alumn Sydney Hightower and NFL Player Fred Warner’s Wedding

On a gorgeous, sun-soaked, Southern California day – Bachelor Alumn Sydney Hightower tied the knot to NFL player Fred Warner of the San Francisco 49ers at the exclusive Cal-a-Vie Health Spa! From the baby’s breath and orchid adorned floral arrangements by Eucharis Studio to the bride’s epic gowns, every inch of their day was truly breathtaking. It’s safe to say they scored big-time with Lavish & Co. who planned every thoughtful detail to perfection. Lucky for us, Amy Golding was there to capture every must-see moment, including a few familiar faces in Bachelor Nation – all at the full gallery.

From the planner, Lavish & Co.… Sydney and Fred wanted a secluded, romantic, but unique venue to host their nuptials.

The minute they saw Cal-a-Vie they knew it was the top of their list, but truly fell in love when they saw the 400-year-old French chapel and intimate reception space accentuated by beautiful antique pieces at every turn.

To ensure we didn’t take away the beauty already present at the venue, Lavish worked with the Eucharis Studio team to choose florals and rentals that were elegant, timeless, and melted into each setting.

Babies breath, candles, greenery, and orchids will truly never go out of style and the couple couldn’t be happier with the final design.

Bride Hand Beads Her Own Gown And Shocks Guests With Helicopter Grand Entrance!

Prepare to be amazed, our bride can make an entrance! For her wedding day she spent countless hours hand-beading her own wedding gown from Revelle Bridal with thousands of sequins to make it one-of-a-kind. If that wasn’t enough, she also arrived at her wedding venue by helicopter! Sinclair & Co. Design planned and designed a day that brought all of the couple’s wildest wedding dreams to life, and Stephanie Mason & Co. beautifully captured every picture-perfect moment in her elegant imagery. Visit the full gallery for a closer look at all the wow!

From Stephanie Mason & Co.… Like many young girls growing up, Jenna always dreamed of her wedding day. Shen never missed an episode of any wedding dress show or movie and was constantly adding to her Pinterest boards. Shortly after getting engaged in late-October 2021, Jenna and Aaron went to visit Jenna’s dream venue, Stonefields Estate (the only venue they went to see). Aaron quickly fell in love (Jenna already had) only to be told that Saturdays were fully booked for the coming year (2022) and that 2023 would be opening soon. Disappointed, days later Jenna sent an email asking to be put on the 2023 email list for that block release. As luck would have it, they had just had a cancellation for a Saturday – May 28, 2022. They were in and out of service when that email came in, headed to their family cottage in Muskoka, Ontario. Jenna shrieked in the car with Aaron driving and immediately went into panic mode as the email stated that another couple, interested in that date, was coming that afternoon to visit the site and that they would have to act fast if they wanted it. The seconds ticked by as Jenna waited to be back in a cell service area on the drive. When she finally was, her reply, without hesitation, was in the form of an e-transfer for the deposit. There was no chancing missing out on this date! Like many other bride’s affected by COVID-19, Jenna’s older sister had just gotten married weeks prior after having postponed many dates. Aaron and Jenna were optimistic about May 2022 but decided to keep the date and deposit a surprise from everyone until they were more confident that it may actually happen. Weeks became months as Jenna and Aaron quietly secured vendors and planned the details of their wedding. Jenna’s Pinterest boards became a Google Slide PowerPoint presentation and she worked closely with Lauren from Sinclair & Co. Design to narrow down each element, bringing the vision boards to life. The overall look and feel consisted of a neutral colour palette, organic florals and lush greenery, soft and natural linen textures, and an elegant touch of gold. All of these elements amplified the already beautiful loft and surrounding grounds at Stonefields Estate.

Right after booking the cancellation date and compiling her vision board, the bride knew she had to find her dream dress ASAP – as they were only 7 months out! Thankfully having a strong idea of what she has always wanted, the bride went shopping alone to continue to keep the wedding a secret. This was a tough decision because of how close she is with her family. It took trying on only four dresses at Revelle Bridal for her to narrow down the one she wanted but something was still missing. She purchased the Scottie V2 Made With Love dress and MWL overskirt ‘rush’ because she also had plans to customize it herself over the coming months! Growing up, her mom taught her how to sew and the only missing element from her dream dress was some amazing sparkle. The dress arrived in just over a month and, in true Cinderella fashion, she spent nights locked away in a room bedazzling her dress in secret from her husband. Thousands of beads were added!! The bride spent over 150 hours hand-sewing a clear sequin and glass mirror bead onto every single large dot of the gown. The finished product was a sparkly customized gown unlike any other. Jenna never wanted a gown that anyone else could purchase so this added personal touch also brought the unique factor she was looking for and paired perfectly, for a true Cinderella moment with her high heels by Christian Louboutin. Her mom helped her get ready and was blown away by the hand-beaded dress – so much so that she almost couldn’t believe it was true. The final touch was a heartfelt emotional first look with the bridesmaids who had been waiting to finally see the much-anticipated gown. Up until moments before, nobody knew what it looked like though many had enjoyed guessing in the weeks leading up to the wedding. The couple truly loves a fun DIY project and the toughest part about all of the wedding ones was actually just keeping them hidden from visiting friends and family who didn’t know about the wedding yet!

By far the largest DIY Jenna and Aaron made was a natural wood backdrop for their ceremony space. Standing over 15 ft wide and almost 9 ft tall, beautifully styled by Sinclair & Co. Design With florals and greenery, it was a unique statement piece like none-other. Separated later into 4 pieces, it was reused inside the loft and on the terrace as smaller backdrops throughout the evening. A beautiful custom linen welcome sign and DIY confetti bar with mini ‘happy tears’ tissue boxes welcomed guests to the ceremony. The bride, a former piano player, created piano music sheet cones for guests to spoon in their desired dried-floral confetti, to be tossed in celebration as the newlyweds came back down the aisle. Accordingly, a live pianist and cello player set the mood for the ceremony space. The most anticipated moment, that only a few key vendors and the groom knew about was Jenna’s grand entrance. This element was kept a complete surprise from friends and family – the bride ended up only telling her parents and bridesmaids moments before. This surprise coincided perfectly with the bride and father’s first-look moment. Jenna quietly let her mom and dad know that the helicopter, flying overhead, was actually here for them. The smile on her dad’s face and disbelief from her mom was well worth the wait. The grand entrance of a lifetime, that the bride had always dreamed of was to arrive to Stonefields Estate by helicopter. Conveniently, there was a tiny airport across the street from the venue, therefore Jenna and her father quietly snuck across the street as guests began to arrive.

Moments before the ceremony began, they took a quick aerial tour above the venue and could see all of the closest loved ones as they were seated for the ceremony. Stephanie from Stephanie Mason & Co. And Chris from Peaking Zebra captured the shocked reactions from the guests. They quickly realized that the helicopter overhead was in fact the bride, landing onsite. While the moment was exhilarating and very exciting for all guests, the goosebumps on Jenna’s arms upon landing were for Aaron, finally seeing him for the first time that day standing up at the altar with tears in his eyes. After a beautiful, heartfelt ceremony, the couple were toasted with champagne and taken to the loft for their grand reveal of the reception. The reception reveal left the couple speechless and very emotional. “It was truly straight out of fairy-tale with the lush florals, beautiful décor, and romantic candle light. Sinclair & Co. Design team delivered way beyond my wildest expectations. It was the most elegant, romantic wedding we could have ever imagined” says the bride. Personalized touches would be an overall theme the couple wanted to achieve throughout their day. An experience for their closest loved ones was constantly in mind when the bride was planning her details. The attention to detail was important and added to the overall uniqueness of the day. One of the most important details was worn by the groom. A blue ALS bracelet. The bracelet (in support of the ALS charity) was a very special way of honouring his late father, who had sadly passed away from ALS a few years back. The couple made a donation to ALS Canada in lieu of guest favours and Wayne was mentioned in many speeches, toasts and memories throughout the day. His spirit and love was felt by the couple and all guests attending the wedding. The couple wanted to share a few thoughts with those couples currently planning their big day. “Hire a core vendor team who has the same goal of making your day perfect. We couldn’t have pulled off what we did without our planner, Lauren (Sinclair & Co. Design). She made the month leading up to our wedding stress free and the entire day enjoyable. A photographer who takes the time to get to know you as a couple and your vibe is important. Stephanie was amazing and we are blown away with our images. Hiring Peaking Zebra, we knew we would have a video of our vows, the speeches, and those moments where we weren’t present for (you can only be in so many places at once!). This made it easier to relax and enjoy wherever we were without fear of missing anything in the blur of the day. Some of our favourite details throughout the day weren’t the most expensive or the bigger ticket items, it was the smaller moments or the hand-made items that reminded everyone of us, as a couple, and our love story. As time goes on and details fade from memory, I know those are the things that I’m going to remember for many years to come!”

From the bride… Aaron and Jenna ‘matched’ on Halloween of 2017. Both Aaron and Jenna went to OttawaU at the same time and while many of their sporty mutual friends overlap, they never met. Their instant connection was founded in their mutual love of family and strong passion for all things sports. Both of them knew right away that this was meant to be and that they had found their forever person. It didn’t take long for them to set down roots and build their forever home together before getting engaged in 2021. In October of 2021 Aaron had kept a diamond ring hidden while secretly planning the perfect proposal for over 6 months. Friday morning, Jenna woke up in their home to a rose petal path leading to a note, a bag and itinerary giving Jenna the day to pack and get her nails done. Aaron had rented a picturesque property in Prince Edward County for the weekend that had a private barn onsite. He hired a local team (Sajess Events) to decorate the barn, inspired by every fairy tale movie or final-rose engagement setup (Bachelor/ette), while they were having dinner at the Drake Devonshire in town. When they returned, Aaron suggested that they check out the barn. As the barn door swung open, their song and a video Aaron had made, documenting their love story, began to play. A photographer (Allison Hadley Photography) capture the emotional moment Aaron got down on one knee in front of a floral arbour surrounded by rose petals and candles lighting up the barn. Champagne was popped when she said yes and he even had a single red rose to give her, a nod to the show. A private vintage car pulled up the next morning and toured them around the wine county to celebrate their engagement.

Like many young girls growing up, Jenna always dreamed of her wedding day. Shen never missed an episode of any wedding dress show or movie and was constantly adding to her Pinterest boards. Shortly after getting engaged in late-October 2021, Jenna and Aaron went to visit Jenna’s dream venue, Stonefields Estate (the only venue they went to see). Aaron quickly fell in love (Jenna already had) only to be told that Saturdays were fully booked for the coming year (2022) and that 2023 would be opening soon. Disappointed, days later Jenna sent an email asking to be put on the 2023 email list for that block release. As luck would have it, they had just had a cancellation for a Saturday – May 28, 2022. They were in and out of service when that email came in, headed to their family cottage in Muskoka. Jenna shrieked in the car with Aaron driving and immediately went into panic mode as the email stated that another couple, interested in that date, was coming that afternoon to visit the site and that they would have to act fast if they wanted it. The seconds ticked by as Jenna waited to be back in a cell service area on the drive. When she finally was, her reply, without hesitation, was in the form of an e-transfer for the deposit. There was no chancing missing out on this date! Like many other bride’s affected by COVID-19, Jenna’s older sister Kyrie had just gotten married weeks prior after having postponed many dates. Aaron and Jenna were optimistic about May 2022 but decided to keep the date and deposit a surprise from everyone until they were surer that it might actually happen. Weeks became months as Jenna and Aaron quietly secured vendors and planned the details of their wedding. Jenna’s Pinterest boards became a Google Slide PowerPoint presentation and she worked closely with Lauren from Sinclair & Co. Design To narrow down each element, bringing the vision boards to life. The overall look and feel consisted of a neutral colour pallet, natural florals and lush greenery, soft and natural fabric tones and an elegant touch of gold. All of these elements amplified the already beautiful Loft beams and surrounding grounds at Stonefields. The couple loves a DIY project and the toughest part about all of the wedding ones was actually just keeping them hidden from visiting friends and family who didn’t know about the wedding yet!

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A Joyful, Southern Fête at the Bride’s Family Estate

This all white wedding will sweep you off of your feet. Held at the bride’s family home, Southern Posies planned the prettiest of celebrations with romance at every turn. Fabulous florals filled the day, from the ceremony surrounded by blooms that seemed to grow from the ground up to hanging flowers overhead at the reception. Meredith Benton Photography beautifully captured the joy and love of the day in her artful imagery. You can swoon over every last one in the full gallery.

From the Bride…. Collins and I met in our second semester of our first year of law school. I was instantly drawn to how kind and cute he was. Once we graduated from law school, we began working and living in two different cities. Not long after, I moved back to where he was and the rest is history. Collins proposed in Atlanta, Georgia, at the historic Swan House. A summer rain shower happened to pop up out of nowhere, and he was absolutely drenched. It is safe to say that I was completely shocked. We were surrounded by both of our families and close friends and it was the sweetest day.

Collins and I knew we wanted to get married in a place that was accessible to all of our guests and, the more we talked about our day, the more we knew that getting married in my hometown at my parent’s home was exactly what we wanted. My parent’s home was built by my grandmother and sits on land that has been in our family for years, so it made for an incredibly special location for our wedding. Not to mention, my sister got married there exactly 6 months prior to us. Walking out of our home with my dad and down the aisle to my groom was something I will never forget.

We knew we wanted the ceremony close to the water and a big, beautiful tent for all of our guests to enjoy the reception in. The vision was for our day to be Southern and traditional, but with some flare. Our wedding planners made sure to incorporate things that truly reflected who we were. For example, I LOVE pizza so they created a pizza bar where guests could select any type of pizza they wanted. Our day was everything and more than we could have ever dreamed.

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Bringing Bridgerton Romance to The Lowcountry at the Gaillard Center

As we eagerly await the release date of Bridgerton Season 3, we count ourselves lucky to have dreamy editorials like today’s to swoon over until then! Inspired by our favorite regency-era guilty pleasure, Intrigue Design & Events and Katherine & Tyler Photo + Video brought old English romance to the streets of Charleston. From hidden butterfly elements to elaborate florals by Violet Rose Floral, no detail was left unturned. The ton is abuzz over all the beauty to be seen in the full gallery!

From Katherine & Tyler Photo + Video… As you know it, Charleston is known for its breathtaking lowcountry scenery and historic architecture. Katherine with Katherine & Tyler Photo and Chelsye with Intrigue Design and Events are Charleston locals who co-founded The Styled Society, a workshop & retreat pursuit for photographers. They combined their passion & creativity together to bring something completely unique and never been done before to Charleston, which is what they strive to do at every workshop they host.

For this bridgerton inspired editorial, Katherine and Chelsye chose to use The Gaillard performing arts center as the “wedding venue” that would hopefully transport you to an old England chateau. With elaborate florals created by Violet Rose Floral and design elements that would take place in Bridgerton, the atmosphere was completely transformed.

One design element that was important to highlight throughout the editorial was butterflies in which you can see hidden intentionally on the head table. With beautifully handmade butterfly place cards and small realistic ones flying out of the centerpieces, this element tied in perfectly with the butterflies on the brides gown.

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Petit Bouquet

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5 Trends From NYBFW Fall 2023 We Can’t Wait to See Take the Wedding World by Storm

For us, Autumn means a few of our favorite things – crisp air, colorful leaves, pumpkin spice everything and our favorite week of the year. Yup, you guessed it – New York Bridal Fashion Week! ✨ The SMP girls had an absolute blast galavanting around the city hopping from show to show, lattes in hand and a shoe swap in each purse 😉 Today, we’re breaking down the 5 hottest trends of the season that completely dominated the runway, and trust us when we tell you – the list may come as a surprise! To say we’re excited to see these styles grace our pages in 2023 real weddings is a serious understatement. Now, let’s get into all the pretty shall we!

1. Capes & Detachable Sleeves

The SuperBride look is here to stay, making waves in this season’s collections as it has in many BFW’s of previous years. But what we didn’t expect to see was the impossible to ignore rise of detachable sleeves! The versatility offered by these functional designs allows brides to bring a whole new vibe to their bridal look. Do we dare ask the question… are detachable sleeves the second dress of 2023? We can’t wait to find out! 😍

Credits in order: Anne Barge, Monique Lhuillier, The Atelier, Julie Vino, MADELINE

2. One-Shoulder Seduction

If you know us, you know we love a good one-shoulder moment. From high fashion to approachable, the one-shoulder statement gowns continued to stand out in the crowd throughout the entire week of events! Here’s a sneak peek at a few of our favorite looks that embraced this sophisticated trend.

Credits in order: Justin Alexander, Anne Barge, Ines Di Santo, Justin Alexander

3. Glitz, glam and glitter!

At almost every collection we were lucky enough to preview, simple took a backseat and SPARKLE took center stage! We mean it… like the more the merrier. We’re talking rhinestones, glitter, metallics, sequins… the whole enchilada! It was an eye-catching movement we truly never would have expected to see make such a huge splash across all designers’ collections, no matter the genre. It’s giving Carrie Bradshaw circa And Just Like That and we’re hereee for it.

Credits in order: Monique Lhuillier, The Atelier, LEGENDS Romona Keveza, Katherine Tash, Ines Di Santo

4. Unexpected Color

Daring shades from designers who typically stick to the classics had our hearts skipping a beat. This season, the runways were brought to life by unexpected palettes – from hot pinks and deep purples to everything in between. You name it, we saw it! And we can’t get enough.

Credits in order: The Atelier, Ines Di Santo, Monique Lhuillier, Badgley Mischka, Ines Di Santo

5. Volume, volume, volume!

Like we said, simple and understated were not the vibe of NYBFW Fall 2023. From princess ball gowns to sky high puff sleeves to supersized bows – volume was out in full force to see and be seen. To fully grasp the magnitude of it all, you’ll just have to see for yourself…

Credits in order: Julie Vino, Viktor and Rolf Mariage, The Atelier, Viktor and Rolf Mariage

Endless Elegance At This Château Saint Georges In The French Riviera

Come to the Château Saint Georges in the French Riviera with us for the ultimate in luxury destination weddings. Guests traveled from all over the world to celebrate, and experience the incredible incredible day planned by Angels Bespoke Event. Beautiful blooms by Wayne Riley Flowers add to the elegance, and imagery from Thomas Audiffren makes us feel as if we are right there with the happy couple. Visit the full gallery for a closer look.

From the couple… In October of 2016, Olya and Brandon both decided to make a life changing decision and move cross country, Olya from NY to LA and Brandon from LA to NY. As luck would have it, just after Olya said her goodbyes to family and the city she loved, they were randomly sat next to each other in Delta Comfort +. It took Brandon 5 hours and 21 minutes but he finally mustered up enough courage to strike up a conversation. The next day, Olya agreed to meet Brandon for a “happy hour” drink, which then turned into dinner and a fun game of billiards. Even though Brandon was on a 30 day cleanse and ordered flavored water and gluten/diary free appetizers, Olya only made fun of him a little bit and the two had a wonderful time getting to know each other. They’ve been together ever since.

In June of 2021, as the global pandemic eased restrictions, Olya and Brandon decided to go on a three-week African safari adventure where they hiked in the forest with mountain gorillas, watched lion cubs playing in the early sunrise, and saw cheetahs hunt for their next meal. At the end of the trip, Brandon got down on one knee and proposed to Olya on the Seychelles Islands, in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Olya thought they were just going out for one last dinner, but soon realized what was happening when she saw the romantic beach dinner set up and acoustic guitarist serenading them.

The newly engaged couple always dreamed of having a destination wedding where their family and friends from both sides could spend time getting know each other, and enjoy a beautiful location most had never been to. The Château Saint Geroges in the French Riviera was the perfect spot, providing luxury accommodations, and an elegant venue with historic charm and sweeping views of the mountains down to the Mediterranean. In total, 79 guests made the trip to the South of France from New York, Florida, Los Angeles, Hawaii, Italy, and Ukraine to be a part of Olya and Brandon’s special celebration.

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Thomas Audiffren

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Petit Bouquet

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A Stylish, Sophisticated Summer Wedding at Flora Farms in Cabo

The second we found out this gorgeous wedding day planned by Martha Lomeli Weddings was actually in Cabo, we had to do a double take. Flora Farms is a lush garden venue you would never expect to find in this beautiful beach paradise – perfectly tucked away in the serene foothills of the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains. The couple fell in love with the farm to table atmosphere, picturesque fields of vegetables and open air feel. The two tied the knot under a blooming magenta floral arbor by Floweriize, and later dined al fresco under strings of twinkle lights! All the inspo you need is just a click away at the full gallery by Meredith Benton Photography!

From the Bride, Caroline… The statistics for a good blind date are probably pretty low, especially on a Monday night during a NYC blizzard. Jake and I met at Cibar near Gramercy Park. We had only seen photos of one another and were mostly going as a favor to our family members who set us up. We ended up closing the bar down, talking for hours, and knew that night that we had found our soul mates. Fast forward a year and a pandemic later, and Jake proposed in Rosemary Beach, Florida, surrounded by friends and family.

It was important to us to pick a destination that our guests would enjoy going to, and could make a vacation out of. We had people flying in from all over the country with most of Jake’s family coming from New York and mine from Texas, so Cabo made the most sense geographically. We originally fell in love with San Jose del Cabo on a trip we took together once travel bans were lifted. Jake and I left with a wedding venue secured at Flora Farms. To say we fell in love with the area would be an understatement. The farm to table atmosphere, along with the magical florals and beautiful fields of vegetables truly made it feel like a heavenly oasis in the middle of the desert.

From the Planner… Caroline & Jake wanted their wedding weekend to be low-key, but elevated. They chose Los Cabos as their destination, and Caroline was very involved in the design of the weekend. She fell in love with the natural elegance of Flora Farms and was inspired by the open air space, farm to table menu, and lush gardens on the property. The seated dinner was served family style, and homemade wood fired pizzas were passed near the dance floor as a surprise late night snack.

Included in their day were many special details like embroidered linen napkins with their initials, maracas with every guest’s name attached to find their assigned seats, a colorful invitation suite with hand lettering and illustrations, and breathtaking flowers by Floweriize.

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A Classic Black and White Wedding With Carefully Curated Details

This timeless black and white wedding is done oh-so right! Anne Claire Allen Planning & Design planned the stunning event and filled it with elegant little details we can’t get enough of. Between the oversized bow on the back of our bride’sCarolina Herrera gown to the floral filled dance floor designed by Silks a Bloom, every inch of this special day is an absolute must-see. The images artfully captured by Erin Wilson Photography and Films expertly capture all the joy and love, see it all inside the full gallery.

From Anne Claire Allen Planning & Design… We loved Madie and Conor’s wedding with all their beautiful classic moments with a fun twist.

They chose black and white for their color scheme and we were blown away by the incredibly fun floral dance floor and band backdrop. The florals were dripping from the table and it was stunning!

My favorite part was Madie’s Carolina Herrera dress with that gorgeous big bow! Even the bridesmaids had bows on their dresses and tiny bow earrings.

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A Destination Wedding In Greece That’s Overflowing With Elegance

Travel to Greece with us for a day carefully crafted by THE EVENT CO. that you won’t want to miss. Floral design by Studio 7 is as romantic as it is inspirational, and every tender moment is artfully captured in imagery by George Liopetas Fine Art Photographs. Visit the full gallery to fall in love with every magical moment.

From George Liopetas Fine Art Photographs… How about getting married in your mother country? How about getting married in Greece? This destination wedding will blow your eyes off. New York is such a city, but Greece and especially Achaia is an amazing place. Especially, if you combine some of the best pros in Greece. Anna Sourbati, owner and planner of THE EVENT CO., created some magic for A+K and their guests could not believe in their eyes. Be sure to check all the images and fell in love with A+K’s fairytale. This wedding is going to make you feel like Greece as Athena and Kostas, who are originally from Nafpaktos Greece, decided to tie the knot where their parents and grandparents did. Isn’t it so romantic? I think it is.

Being in the fashion industry and working for the most iconic fashion brands, our bride Athena was really such a beautiful bride! Where should we start from? From her amazing Vera Wang gown with this so chic external sleeve piece? From her Rene Caovilla tailor made heels? Ohhh yes, Rene especially made these heels for her and only for her!

From the bride, ‘We met for the first time briefly in New York City, back in the summer of 2013. We did not meet again until the summer of 2014, when we met in Nafpaktos. And that is where it all began! Nafpaktos is so special to the both of us’.

The beauty elements of the day were done by by Chrisanthos Smirneos, an amazing hair stylist, and Mary Rokkou, a well know make up artist. Both well known for their work in the fashion industry of Greece and not only, our magical bride left us speechless.  The wedding ceremony was held at ‘Saint Paraskevi’ church, in Nafpaktos downtown and the reception took place at the amazing Idilofon Venue. You should totally check the sunset behind the Rio-Antirio bridge… It was such a beauty.   Last but not least, the fairytale would not be the same without the amazing team of Studio 7. From the amazing white peonies bouquet to he amazing white rose centerpieces to the this amazingly decorated table for two = THE BEST JULY WEDDING!